The first golden rays of sunrise began pushing away the darkness of night.

  Light spilled across the endless golden fields surrounding Kael and Astra. It would have been a breathtaking sight if they hadn’t been watching the city in tense silence. Noise and restless movement had already begun there.

  In the daylight, Kael could finally see how crudely the city had been built. The houses were nothing like those in the capital. Aside from the garrison rising near the massive northern wall, most buildings were small and rough; some were barely larger than the room in which they were hiding.

  "The people here must really have no choice if they stay and live under conditions like this," Kael muttered, disturbed.

  Beside him, Astra only shrugged.

  "In the capital, farmers can barely survive anymore. Most of them join colonial settlements, claiming newly explored lands as quickly as possible."

  She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

  "The king promised each family their own plot of land and fields if they relocated."

  She let out a quiet, humorless whistle.

  "Of course, he earns five times that back through taxes and forced low prices."

  Her gaze drifted back toward the city, and sadness flickered across her face.

  "But they still don't have a choice. At least here they get a house. Work. Even if it’s barely enough.”

  Her eyes moved to the siblings still sleeping behind them.

  "I assume their parents are dead. That means the guards can do whatever they want with them. And no one steps in.”

  Her voice dropped.

  "What if I help her and become their next target?"

  She shook her head slowly.

  "That's probably what everyone here is thinking."

  Kael listened carefully, then nodded.

  "Fear rules the world, huh?" he murmured.

  Astra nodded grimly.

  "It's inhuman. But it works.”

  A rustling sound behind them ended the conversation.

  They both turned around.

  The siblings were awake now, staring at them with sleepy, uncertain eyes.

  A silence settled between them. For once, Kael had no idea what to say.

  Before he could try to break the silence, the little boy suddenly ran toward him, looking up at him with shining eyes.

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  "That was amazing, how you fought! Your movements were incredible,” the boy babbled, tugging at Kael’s shirt with one hand while swinging an imaginary sword with the other.

  "I really love swords. I secretly watch the guards train all the time. Did you know that—”

  The boy kept talking without pause.

  Kael shot Astra a helpless look, which quickly turned into a pleading one.

  Astra covered her mouth, clearly trying to hide her laughter.

  For a brief moment, Kael ignored the boy completely, his gaze fixed only on her.

  It was the first time he had seen her laugh like that—open, unguarded, and real.

  He snapped out of it when the older girl gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and pulled him back.

  The boy stopped and looked up at his sister.

  She gave him a look that Kael couldn’t quite interpret.

  "I'm sorry," the boy said, turning back to Kael.

  "I just wanted to say thank you."

  Kael couldn’t help but smile at the suddenly serious look on the boy’s face.

  Was I ever this fearless?

  He placed a hand on the boy’s head and ruffled his hair.

  "You're welcome."

  Then, Kael crouched down to meet the boy at eye level.

  He glanced quickly over his shoulder at Astra.

  "The girl behind me is an even better fighter. I’m sure she could teach you a thing or two.”

  The boy lit up and turned toward Astra, who was still quietly giggling.

  Without hesitation, he ran over and hugged her tightly.

  Astra froze, her amused expression shifting into pure confusion.

  She shot Kael a helpless look.

  Kael only winked in response before turning toward the girl.

  She was watching him with warm green eyes.

  He didn’t know how to describe it, but her gaze made him uncomfortable.

  Not in a bad way.

  It made him feel like he didn’t deserve to be looked at like that.

  He looked away and opened his mouth to speak, but froze when she stepped forward and gently hugged him, resting her head against his shoulder.

  He had no idea what to do.

  He just stood there awkwardly with his hands in the air while she closed her eyes and leaned into him.

  After a moment—one that felt like an eternity to Kael—she slowly let go.

  Before stepping away, she leaned close to his ear and whispered something that sounded like a soft thank you. Then she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

  Giggling, she skipped a few steps back.

  Kael stood there, completely stunned, while he felt two very intense gazes burning into his back.

  ...

  He could still feel the assessing gazes of Astra and the little boy who had introduced himself as Noah on him as all four of them sat on the floor in a small circle, discussing what to do next.

  He sighed.

  Across from him, Elia was silently giggling.

  He looked at her.

  "You know this is your fault, right?"

  The girl only shrugged and continued to giggle.

  Despite everything, he found himself smiling, too.

  The way she radiated life, even after everything she had endured and after trauma had stolen her voice, fascinated and confused him.

  After getting Elia’s permission, Noah told them why she could no longer speak.

  By the end of the story, Kael felt a rage he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Their parents had fallen in love in the capital. But their families rejected the relationship, so they moved north together. Noah said they had been happy when they first arrived. They didn’t have much, but their love was enough. When Elia and Noah were born, their family felt complete.

  There was laughter. Warmth. Safety.

  Then, Noah’s voice began to shake.

  Their mother died. No one knew why. She had simply passed away peacefully in her sleep.

  It broke their father.

  He stopped working. He started fights with anyone who crossed him.

  Noah glanced at his sister.

  "But it hit her the hardest," he said quietly.

  Elia looked almost exactly like their mother. Their father couldn’t bear it. Every time she tried to speak, he hit her. He called her a copy.

  A fake.

  A replacement.

  Eventually, she became so afraid of making a sound that she stopped speaking entirely.

  Later, their father died in a fight with city guards.

  After that, the guards found ways to "entertain" themselves with the helpless, voiceless girl.

  When Noah finished, silence filled the room.

  Kael couldn’t find the words to describe how cruel this girl’s life had been.

  Something inside him settled into place.

  He had already made his decision.

  He looked at Astra and immediately knew she had come to the same conclusion.

  "We'll get you out of here," he said in a low, firm voice.

  "No matter the cost.”